ROOM lands two nominations at this year’s European Film Awards, which honours the greatest achievements in European Cinema. Director Lenny Abrahamson and producer Ed Guiney are nominated for Best Film, while Emma Donoghue is nominated for Best Screenwriter. The nominations follow a slew of awards for ROOM, including 4 Oscar nominations and a best actress Oscar win for Brie Larson.

Speaking on the nominations, producer Ed Guiney commented “We are thrilled that ROOM has been recognised by the EFA’s and are so pleased that the brilliant work of Lenny and Emma is being honoured in this way.”

Guiney was previously the recipient of the European co-production award – Prix Eurimages. The winners will be announced on 10 December in Wroclaw, Poland where more than 3,000 EFA members will vote on the winners.

With a box-office total of over €1.3m in Ireland, ROOM is the No.1 Irish film released this year.

Told through the eyes of five-year-old-Jack (Tremblay), ROOM is a thrilling and emotional tale that celebrates the resilience and power of the human spirit. To Jack, Room is the world…. It’s where he was born, it’s where he and his Ma (Larson) eat and sleep and play and learn. But while it’s home to Jack, to Ma it’s a prison. Through her fierce love for her son, Ma has managed to create a childhood for him in their ten-by-ten-foot space. But as Jack’s curiosity is building alongside Ma’s own desperation – she knows that Room cannot contain either indefinitely.

Element Pictures’ Ed Guiney (The Lobster, Frank, What Richard Did) produced ROOM with David Gross (What If, Goon). Executive producers are Andrew Lowe (The Lobster, Frank, The Wind that Shakes the Barley) for Element Pictures and Jeff Arkuss (What If) and Jesse Shapira (What If, Goon) for No Trace Camping. Emma Donoghue, Rose Garnett (Film 4), Tessa Ross (Film 4), and David Kosse (Film 4) also serve as executive producers. Irish finance for the film came from the Irish Film Board.

Element Pictures Distribution is pleased to announce the DVD & On-Demand Release for VIVA on October 28th

VIVA stars Héctor Medina as Jesus, a hairdresser for a troupe of drag performers in Havana, who dreams of being a performer. Encouraged by his mentor, Mama (Luis Alberto García), Jesus finally gets his chance to take the stage. When his estranged father Angel (Jorge Perugorría) abruptly renters his life, his world is quickly turned upside down. As father and son clash over their opposing expectations of each other, VIVA becomes a love story as the men struggle to understand one another and reconcile as a family. Set in contemporary Cuba, Viva is a tender love story of a father and a son struggling to escape from opposing expectations, duty and the burden of past sins.

VIVA is available on DVD on Oct 28TH and ON-DEMAND from iTunes, Virgin Media and Volta, DVD stockists include Tower Records, Golden Discs and the IFI Shop

The Element Pictures produced THE LOBSTER, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos wins in top categories at last night’s Screen Awards, which recognises excellence in film marketing, distribution and exhibition. The film picked up the awards for poster design of the year, thanks to the incredible work of Greek designer Vasilis Marmatakis in collaboration with director Lanthimos. Element Pictures Distribution and Picturehouse Entertainment also scooped the coveted theatrical campaign of the year for THE LOBSTER (99 sites and under).

Element Pictures Distribution and Picturehouse Entertainment jointly released THE LOBSTER in Ireland and the UK last October, grossing over €2 million at the box-office which is deemed a break out figure for any independent film. A24 handled its US distribution with a gross box-office of $9 million. The film has also performed beyond expectations in all other international territories that have opened to date; Australia (Sony), Belgium (Imagine Films), France (Haut et Court), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Italy (Good Films),The Netherlands (De Filmfreak), and South Korea (Contents Gate)

Head of Element Pictures Distribution, Audrey Sheils commented “The Lobster is such a unique film and we knew Vasilis, working with Yorgos would create artwork as original as the film, and delighted that has been recognized. Both the Element Distribution team and Picturehouse team worked endlessly to make The Lobster a theatrical success across Ireland and the UK, and to win against such other stand out campaigns is testament to the dedication of both teams.”

THE LOBSTER is a love story set in the near future where single people, according to the rules of The City, are arrested and transferred to The Hotel. There they are obliged to find a matching mate in 45 days. If they fail, they are transformed into an animal of their choosing and released into The Woods. A desperate Man escapes from The Hotel to The Woods where The Loners live and falls in love, although it is against their rules.

Element Pictures will re-team with Yorgos for his next feature The Killing of a Sacred Deer which has just completed filming in the US with Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman attached.

THE LOBSTER is written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou and produced by Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Ceci Dempsey and Yorgos Lanthimos. Executive Producers are Andrew Lowe, Tessa Ross and Sam Lavender.

THE LOBSTER is an Element Pictures, Scarlet Films, Faliro House, Haut et Court, Lemming Film co-production in association with Limp and with Irish finance for the film from the Irish Film Board.

Virgin Media, Ireland’s leading entertainment company is delighted to partner up with Element Pictures Distribution to feature the much anticipated MATTRESS MEN On- Demand from Friday 7th October.

This unique Irish documentary captures a true story about the struggle of turning an ordinary story into an extraordinary journey.

In an attempt to save his struggling mattress business, sixty-something Michael Flynn reinvents himself as the eccentric online personality ‘Mattress Mick’ under the guidance of his good friend Paul Kelly. Paul, burdened with debts and living with his family in inner city Dublin yearns to get a full time contract working with Mick. Using all his marketing savvy and entrepreneurial skills, Paul embarks on a mission to make Mattress Mick a viral sensation. Will Paul be successful in his endeavours? And will Mick finally overcome the challenges in their friendship and recognise the hard work and good intentions of his long-time friend?

MATTRESS MEN is a bittersweet and moving tale of friendship and the struggles of two men that is sure to delight audiences everywhere.

Tony Hanway, CEO of Virgin Media said “Virgin Media is delighted to support one of Ireland’s leading Independent film company, Element Pictures Distribution, and offer viewers the opportunity to watch MATTRESS MEN On Demand at the same time it is released in Cinemas across Ireland. This is another exciting offering from Virgin Media’s on demand service, which already boasts hundreds of hours of movies and TV shows across multiple platforms including Horizon TV and Horizon Go.”

Element Pictures MD Andrew Lowe added “This partnership with Virgin Media ensures that the brilliant MATTRESS MEN will be seen by as wide an audience as possible and gives Virgins’ customers the choice as to where and when they watch the film. We are really pleased to be working with Virgin in this innovative way and look forward to many more Day and Date releases* with them in the future.”

MATTRESS MEN is directed by Colm Quinn and produced by Ciaran Deeney and David Clarke with funding from the Irish Film Board.

MATTRESS MEN is in Cinemas and on Virgin Media On- Demand and Volta from October 7th.

Element Pictures Distribution are delighted to announce that Ryan Tubridy will host the Q&A for the gala screening of The Siege of Jadotville.

The special gala screening of the film will take place in The Savoy Cinema on September 19th and will celebrate the film and honor the surviving Jadotville soldiers. Following the film, there will be a Q&A hosted by Ryan Tubridy. The panel will include Jamie Dornan, Richie Smyth and Alan Moloney and the Q&A will be live streamed to cinemas throughout Ireland.

Netflix and Element Pictures Distribution are partners on the UK & Ireland theatrical release for the Netflix Original Film, The Siege of Jadotville, produced by Irish production company Parallel Films. This partnership will make the film available in select cinemas across Ireland and the UK from September 19, and the film will launch on Netflix, everywhere the service is available, on October 7.

Directed by Richie Smyth and written by Kevin Brodbin, The Siege of Jadotville is a gripping true story of incredible bravery against impossible odds, as it thrillingly depicts the 1961 siege of a 150-strong Irish UN battalion under Commander Patrick Quinlan (Jamie Dornan) by 3,000 Congolese troops led by French and Belgian mercenaries working for mining companies. Featuring a stellar line-up of acting talent including Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong, Jason O’Mara, Guillaume Canet and Sam Keeley. The Siege of Jadotville is produced by Alan Moloney (Brooklyn, Albert Nobbs, Byzantium) for Parallel Films as well as Richie Smyth and Kevin Brodbin.

Irish audiences flocked to A DATE FOR MAD MARY this week which has propelled the film to beat off stiff competition such as Woody Allen’s Café Society. A DATE FOR MAD MARY has the second highest screen average of the week which is an incredible feat for an independent feature from a first-time director.

In A DATE FOR MAD MARY, ‘Mad’ Mary McArdle returns to Drogheda after a short spell in prison – for something she’d rather forget. Back home, everything and everyone has changed. Her best friend, Charlene, is about to get married and Mary is maid of honour. When Charlene refuses Mary a ‘plus one’ on the grounds that she probably couldn’t find a date, Mary becomes determined to prove her wrong. But her attempts at dating are a disaster and she winds up feeling more alone… until she meets Jess and everything changes. The film is directed by Darren Thornton and stars Seána Kerslake, Tara Lee, Charleigh Bailey, Denise McCormack and Siobhan Shanahan.

A DATE FOR MAD MARY premiered at Karlovy Vary where it garnered heart-felt praise from Variety who called it “instantly loveable” and “a delight”. The Irish Times called it “a triumphant first feature” and “the wedding zinger you’ve been waiting for” with The Irish Independent awarding it 5 ★★★★★and praising Kerslake’s performace “she’s superb, an extraordinary talent and surely bound for bigger things. “

The film has also been selected to screen in competition at the London Film Festival this October.

Speaking on the result, head of Element Pictures Distribution Audrey Sheils commented “It’s such a pleasure to work on a film right through from development to the big screen, and then see it capture the heart of critics and audiences alike. I think we’ll all be seeing a lot more Seána Kerslake, Tara Lee and Charleigh Bailey in coming years. Everyone in Element Distribution is delighted to see their talent so widely recognised.”

A DATE FOR MAD MARY is directed by Darren Thornton , written by Darren and Colin Thornton and produced by Ed Guiney (The Guard, The Lobster, Room) and Juliette Bonass (Get Up & Go, Glassland). The film is financed by the Irish Film Board, BAI and TV3

Element Pictures Distribution are delighted that A DATE FOR MAD MARY will have its UK premiere at the 60th BFI London Film Festival which will take place 5-16 October 2016.

A DATE FOR MAD MARY has been receiving stellar reviews with industry bible Variety calling it ‘Instantly lovable…beautifully performed, warm yet melancholic’, The Irish Times calling it ‘Triumphant’ and The Sunday Times describing it as “fresh, irreverent, fun and gloriously real.”

A DATE FOR MAD MARY tells the story of ‘Mad’ Mary McArdle returning to Drogheda after a short spell in prison – for something she’d rather forget. Back home, everything and everyone has changed. Her best friend, Charlene, is about to get married and Mary is maid of honour. When Charlene refuses Mary a ‘plus one’ on the grounds that she probably couldn’t find a date, Mary becomes determined to prove her wrong. But her attempts at dating are a disaster and she winds up feeling more alone… until she meets Jess and everything changes.

It is a tough and tender story about friendship, first love, and letting go of the glory days, starring Seána Kerslake (Can’t Cope/Won’t Cope, The Lobster), Tara Lee (Raw, The Fall) and Charleigh Bailey.

A DATE FOR MAD MARY is Darren Thornton’s debut feature film following his hugely acclaimed short film Frankie and IFTA award-winning Love is the Drug.

Speaking on the selection, director Thornton commented that “I’m absolutely thrilled that A date for Mad Mary has been accepted at the London Film Festival, especially being selected to screen in competition. We’ve been looking forward to sharing the film with British audiences and to be having our first screenings at a festival as well regarded as LFF is really wonderful.”

A DATE FOR MAD MARY is directed by Darren Thornton , written by Darren and Colin Thornton and produced by Ed Guiney (The Guard, The Lobster, Room) and Juliette Bonass (Get Up & Go, Glassland). The film is financed by the Irish Film Board, BAI and TV3

A DATE FOR MAD MARY is released in cinemas across Ireland tomorrow September 2nd

Element Pictures Distribution are thrilled to announce that they have secured the Irish and UK rights to Treasure Entertainment’s new Irish comedy THE FLAG with a cinema release set for October 14th.

THE FLAG tells the story of Harry Hambridge (Pat Shortt ) who is a down-on-his-luck paddy living in London. In one day he loses his job, father and beloved pet hamster, Mouse. On returning home to bury his father, he finds a statement from his Grandfather, claiming that it was he who raised the flag over the GPO during the 1916 Rising, which now hangs upside-down in an army barracks in England. Too long used to the mockery of his life, he sets out with his motley crew to find that fecking flag and maybe his passion for life along the way.

THE FLAG has a stellar line-up of Irish acting talent which also including Moe Dunford (Patrick’s Day, Vikings) Ruth Bradley (Rebellion, Love/Hate ) and Brian Gleeson (Rebellion, Tiger Raid ). It’s directed by Declan Recks and written by Eugene O’Brien who previously worked together on Pure Mule and Eden.

The Flag is produced by Robert Walpole and Rebecca O’Flanagan from Treasure Entertainment and is backed by The Irish Film Board, BAI and RTE.

The Element Pictures’ production The Killing of a Sacred Deer, has started shooting in Cincinnati and reunites Colin Farrell with director/producer Yorgos Lanthimos, following the critical and commercial success of The Lobster. Nicole Kidman also stars as the wife of Farrell’s character, along with Barry Keoghan (’71), Raffey Cassidy (Tomorrowland),Sunny Suljic (The Unspoken), Bill Camp (12 Years a Slave) and Alicia Silverstone (Clueless).

The film is produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe’s Element Pictures, who were among the producers of The Lobster and Oscar-winner Room.

Lanthimos and his regular collaborator, Efthymis Filippou co-wrote the project. Farrell stars as Steven, a charismatic surgeon forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice after his life starts to fall apart, when the behaviour of a teenage boy he has taken under his wing turns sinister.

The film is financed by Film4 and the Irish Film Board, who were financiers of The Lobster, and New Sparta Films whose involvement was brokered by HanWay Films. The project was developed by Element Pictures and Film4. HanWay Films is worldwide sales agent, and A24 are on board as US distributor, following their May release of The Lobster.

The Lobster won the Cannes Jury Prize in 2015 and Dogtooth won Cannes’ Prix Un Certain Regard in 2009, before going on to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

A DATE FOR MAD MARY tells the story of ‘Mad’ Mary McArdle returning to Drogheda after a short spell in prison – for something she’d rather forget. Back home, everything and everyone has changed. Her best friend, Charlene, is about to get married and Mary is maid of honour. When Charlene refuses Mary a ‘plus one’ on the grounds that she probably couldn’t find a date, Mary becomes determined to prove her wrong. But her attempts at dating are a disaster and she winds up feeling more alone… until she meets Jess and everything changes.

It is a tough and tender story about friendship, first love, and letting go of the glory days, starring Seána Kerslake (Can’t Cope/Won’t Cope, The Lobster), Tara Lee (Raw, The Fall) and Charleigh Bailey.